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Portland Trail Blazers: The greatest Opening Day performances in franchise history (Pt. 2)

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after hitting a three point shot late in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazzat the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Lillard scored 39 points as the Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after hitting a three point shot late in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazzat the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Lillard scored 39 points as the Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Today marks the start of the new season for the Portland Trail Blazers. Here, we finish our countdown, reminiscing on the greatest Opening Day performances in franchise history.

Cancel those Wednesday night plans, because the day has finally come. For the first time in nearly four months, the Portland Trail Blazers are scheduled to play meaningful basketball. Tonight, they open their 51st season in franchise history as they prepare to go head-to-head with the Utah Jazz.

We’ve belabored the topic of what tonight’s Blazers-Jazz game could entail. But as it relates to this article, there’s a central idea at its heart: on this very team, Portland has multiple players capable of generating fireworks from the opening tip of the opening game.

During the first portion of this article, a few of those names came about, including appearances from Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. For those interested, they can find that here.

In the grand scheme of things, a win tonight would be merely one game out of 82. But for a franchise that has made it a pattern out of routinely slogging through the earlier parts of the year, every early-season win counts in what promises to be a remarkably-tough Western Conference.

And for all of the criticisms that experts have thrown at Portland’s star backcourt, it certainly helps to have players capable of heating up for a sustained stretch, and putting a game out of question with just a few flicks of the wrist.

The Portland Trail Blazers have had some remarkable season-opening performances in their franchise history that fits that previous scenario. Here, we get to the home stretch, and countdown the absolute best of the best.